Hanover Wins Class I Title Over Bow, 1-0
The Hanover boys made history Sunday night, beating Bow 1-0 to win their third consecutive Class I title. In the process, the Marauders closed out an 18-0-2 undefeated season, Hanover’s first since 1993. In addition securing the first “three-peat” in Hanover High soccer history the Marauders notched the 14th state title in 48 years. No other New Hampshire high school has won more than 13, and Hanover is tied with five other schools for the fifth-best total in the country.
Hanover beat Bow in the finals for the second time in three years, and did it with a suffocating defense that set several NH high school records. The Marauders allowed only 4 goals in 20 games, breaking the all-time record of five, now jointly held by the 1993 Hanover teams and this year’s Moultonborough Academy Class S runner-up. It was Hanover’s 17th shutout of the season, tying the mark set by Gilford High School in 1999.
Hanover’s undefeated streak is now 27 games, dating back to October 2006. That’s the fifth-best streak in NH high school history. The third-best was established by the Marauders in 1992-1994, a skein of 46 which includes the back-to-back 19-0-0 seasons of 1992 and 1993. In addition to allowing .20 goals per game, the Marauders scored a total of 80, a tidy average of 4.0 per game. Only the 1968 team, which scored 93 goals, had a higher total.
The Championship game against Bow was not about records, and perhaps that’s one of the reasons that the Marauders were able to succeed against their most determined opponent of the season. The Falcons had a better won-lost record over the past three seasons, and they were hungry for their first Class I title to validate years of soccer success. The showed no fear from the opening whistle, and showed the ability to press the Marauders as no team had this season.
Hanover was ready. Angus Kennedy and Aussie Cyrus were dominant at midfield, not only defending well but holding the ball long enough to organize a more coherent attack than the Falcons. The Marauders were the better attacking team, and knocked on the door several times. They outshot Bow by an 8-0 margin, and came increasingly close on several restarts. Casey Maue continued his torrid postseason play, and was a constant threat in the Falcon penalty area. Yosef Osheyack, bloodied in a hard but clean collision, shook off the cobwebs and narrowly missed a short-range shot with Maue just off target in an attempt to slot home the rebound. Cyrus, Matt Wetherell, Cal Felicetti and Eric Jayne all had good shooting opportunities at the top of the penalty area. Finally, with six minutes left in the half, the Marauders collected the only goal that they would need. Angus Kennedy hit a long free kick from the right side, and Casey Maue was first to the ball in a scrum in front of the Bow goal. The ball caromed off Maue’s moosh and popped back into the air, where Casey and a rejuvenated Eric Barthold got their heads on it simultaneously, and floated over stranded Falcon keeper Al Grip, settling in to the back of the net. Barthold was credited with his 10th goal of the season, and the Marauders had a lead they would never relinquish.
Everyone at Exeter’s Bill Ball Field knew that Bow would come out at the start of the second half with fire in their eyes, and they didn’t disappoint. The Falcons collected four shots and three corner kicks in the first ten minutes, and several of the scoring chances were perilously close, especially a long-range free kick by Bow’s Kyle Geddes that Marauder goalie Ben Harwick barely pushed by the far post. Another close-range Bow blast just cleared the crossbar.
When they needed composure the most, the Marauders reached down and found an ample measure. Regaining control of the match, they took the attack back to Bow, and put on a dazzling display of attacking football. Maue had a close-range shot cleared off the line, and Barthold hit a long-range blast that Grip grabbed as it was headed to the upper ninety. Aussie Cyrus continued his midfield mastery, and orchestrated several dangerous chances, including another near-miss by Osheyack, now feeling very comfortable in Cory French’s borrowed number 22. Hanover got some key minutes off the bench from midfielders Henry Caldwell and Paul Burchard and striker Eric Jayne. All of them proved that they were ready for prime time
As the clock wound down to the final ten minutes, it became clearer that Hanover would be faced with the task of holding a 1-0 lead, something they had failed to do not once but twice earlier in the season, against both Souhegan and Lebanon. Bow’s potential to erase the lead was significantly more dangerous, but with the game on the line, the Marauder defense had its finest hour. Cal Felicetti and Matt Wetherell had been flawless all game, and they stood even taller in the waning minutes. Kennedy was planted in the middle of the fray, marshalling his troops and coolly clearing the ball without a mistake. Bow had every opportunity, but without a Hanover mistake or mis-kick they were going nowhere. As the seconds ticked off, Kennedy relieved the pressure with a final full bike, and the Hanover bench, crammed beyond the allotted limit, erupted onto the field to celebrate history.
In the end, it was all about the seniors. Every one of the 12 had a critical role to play, on or off the park, and every one showed the leadership and fortitude to make a championship happen. Eight of them started, nine of them played, but every one owned a share of the title. Working hard every day in practice, doing so when playing time was not a sure thing, and in several cases doing so after overcoming nagging injuries took the sort of rare courage that inspired teammates and coaches. When you’re looking for the small things that make a difference in putting a team over the top, look no further than the contributions of Erik Barth, Dylan Riessen and Oliver Horton. On any other Class I team they would start, and star. Thankfully, they are Marauders.
There will be other accounts of this magic season forthcoming, some by scribes better positioned and infinitely more qualified to offer perspective. None will be more grateful than this typist. Thanks for the insight, dedication and defensive genius of Coach Alex Kahan, and the consistent excellence of young-at-heart Coach Mike Callanan, whose 49-1-0 JV record this past three years continues to be reflected in the varsity’s success. Thanks to all of the coaches who have labored in the vineyards with these young men, helping them learn the tactics and techniques that manifested themselves this year. Lighting coaches Chris Cheney, Chris Kennedy, Alex Kahan and Chris Lincoln deserve major props, as do Touchline coaches Mark Alloway and Dustin Burnett. The latter helped forge the steel of this team in the cauldron of the Richmond Gym at lunchtime.
There can never be enough thanks for the parents, whose support for their sons over the years has been immeasurable, and which increased exponentially in this season of scoreboard duty, snack shack responsibilities, photojournalism, web hosting, laundry, chauffeuring, and who knows what else. In the end, all of that and more will get you a flower, a photo op and a sweaty hug. More than worth it.
It was wonderful for a team this deserving to win out, mostly because it made it easier for the coach, who would otherwise have had to explain (and would have done so successfully!) that this was a great season win or lose. This team’s true triumph went beyond wins, losses and records. This was a team which established a culture of inclusion, unselfishness and genuine respect for each other and the game. They had bullseyes on their backs from day one and never buckled under the oppressive weight of expectations based on history. They took their responsibility as role models seriously, both in the school and in the community. These are the exemplars that parents in the Upper Valley want for their young sons. This team understood that community membership brings the responsibility to make a difference in helping others, and gladly gave their time to help. This was a team that once again put sportsmanship and fair play first on their agenda every day. Whether or not they win another ward for this is moot. They have consistently honored the game. They deserve their place among Hanover’s greatest teams.
